Summary

Elena is at the beach watching Nino and Lila swim off alone and hears a familiar voice. It is Michele Solara and his fiancee Gigliola. They ask where Lila is; Elena says she's swimming. She is tense and nervous, worried about Nino and Lila being caught by neighborhood people. Elena surmises that Michele came specifically to see Lila about the new shoes. Eventually Nino and Lila emerge from the water, hands linked, shoulders touching, close as can be. When Lila sees Michele she immediately pulls away. Elena introduces Nino around; Michele recognizes the name because Donato wrote a negative article about the shoe store. Michele asks Lila if she was sure Rino made the new shoes and she said yes. Michele tells Lila he wants her working in the shoe store by the end of the summer.

In Chapter 68, Elena is overwrought with...